What We Do

BBO Projects

Building better opportunities…

Building Better Opportunities is a national programme from The National Lottery Community Fund who are matching funds from the European Social Fund (ESF) 2014-2020 to invest in local projects tackling the root causes of poverty, promoting social inclusion and driving local jobs and growth. We are one of over 60 partners who are helping people to overcome barriers, improve their employability skills and to secure fulfilling occupations.

We’re working to provide support under three Building Better Opportunities programmes across North Lancashire:

Invest in Youth

Community Solutions is a delivery partner in theInvest in Youth project in Lancashire. Invest in Youth is part of the nationwide Building Better Opportunities programme, funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and The National Lottery Community Fund to help tackle the poverty and social exclusion faced by the most disadvantaged people in England.

The project aims to transform the futures of young people aged between 15 and 24 who would like to work but are unable to without additional skills or support. Through this project we work with young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET), including young people at risk of becoming NEET.

Through Invest in Youth project, participants receive intensive support from a Key Worker to be able to engage in work readiness activity. Following an initial assessment of each participant’s interests and the barriers they face around entering work or further learning, the Key Worker guides the participant to achieve milestones agreed within their personal action plan.

Within 3 years, the Invest in Youth partnership aims to support 770 young people aged 15-24 to overcome their barriers and move closer to employment, education or training. We are proud to be part this specialist partnership of social enterprises and community organisations whose work is transforming lives across Lancashire.

Our partnership’s most recent quarterly results show that Invest in Youth has already supported 582 people with multiple and complex barriers to work. As a direct result of the support received from this project, 106 people have overcome the challenges they were facing and are now employed, self-employed or in training.

For more information about the Invest in Youth project please contact: Mark Roberts on 01254 460080

Changing Futures

Community Solutions is a delivery partner in the Changing Futures project in Lancashire. Changing Futures is part of the nationwide Building Better Opportunities programme, funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and The National Lottery Community Fund to help tackle the poverty and social exclusion faced by the most disadvantaged people in England.

The Changing Futures project is focussed on supporting people facing multiple and complex barriers to employment. All participants are unemployed or economically inactive and are at high risk of social exclusion, such as people from BAME communities, people with physical or mental health problems and people with learning difficulties.

Through the Changing Futures project, our partners work with each participant as an individual. Our Transformational Coaches help each participant to understand their own abilities, skills and interests to identify ways to help address their multiple barriers to economic activity.

Within 3 years, the Changing Futures partnership aims to support 1000 people over the age of 15 to overcome multiple and complex barriers and move closer to employment, education or training. We are proud to be part this specialist partnership of social enterprises and community organisations whose work is transforming lives across Lancashire.

Our partnership’s most recent quarterly results show that Changing Futures has already supported 867 people with multiple and complex barriers to work. As a direct result of the support received from this project, 85 people have overcome the challenges they were facing and are now employed, self-employed or in training.

For more information about the Changing Futures project please contact: Mark Roberts on 01254 460080

Age of Opportunity

Community Solutions is a delivery partner in the Age of Opportunity project in Lancashire. The Age of Opportunity is part of the nationwide Building Better Opportunities programme, funded by the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund to help tackle the poverty and social exclusion faced by the most disadvantaged people in England.

The Age of Opportunity project has been designed specifically to meet the needs of over 50s who would like to work but are unable to without additional skills or support. A core focus for this project is supporting older people who are most at risk of social exclusion due to mental or physical health difficulties, homelessness or being full-time carers, for example.

Through this project, our ‘Navigators’ work with participants to understand their interests, aspirations and barriers to work or training. Each individual is then directed within our thematic partner network for specialist support that will help them to engage in work readiness activity.

Within 3 years, the Age of Opportunity partnership aims to support 1500 people over the age of 50 to overcome their barriers and move closer to employment, education or training. We are proud to be part this specialist partnership of social enterprises and community organisations whose work is transforming lives across Lancashire.

Our partnership’s most recent quarterly results show that Age of Opportunity has already supported 729 people with multiple and complex barriers to work. As a direct result of the support received from this project, 85 people have overcome challenges they were facing and are now employed, self-employed or in training.

For more information about the Age of Opportunity project please contact: Mark Roberts on 01254 460080

Our feature in the BBO film

We are delighted to have been featured in one of a series of Lancashire’s Building Better Opportunities films – here’s a snapshot of the programme and the difference we have been able to make from the perspective of one participant:

Building Better Opportunities is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and the European Social Fund (ESF) 2014-2020, and is investing in local projects tackling the root causes of poverty, promoting social inclusion and driving local jobs and growth. Three Building Better Opportunities projects in Lancashire are being delivered by a partnership of over 60 organisations, led by Selnet (the Social Enterprise Lancashire Network). ‘Age of Opportunity’ supports people over 50, ‘Invest in Youth’ supports 15-24-year olds and ‘Changing Futures’ supports people with multiple and complex barriers to employment. Services cover the whole county and delivery partners have been selected to meet the specialist needs of the people that will receive support. Over three years, three specialist projects will help transform the lives of 3270 disadvantaged people, providing support tailored to their individual needs and interests to overcome complex barriers and move towards work and training. For more information visit www.selnet-uk.com/bbo